A MAJOR child abuse probe is under way in a Highland village.

Northern Constabulary have described the investigation centring on Muir of Ord as "large-scale" and said that there may be "multiple victims and suspects".

And Chief Constable Ian Latimer said the inquiry into allegations at the village - which has a population of just 1812 - is "destined to be one of the largest" of its type faced by the force in recent years.

The probe is expected to last for weeks and police officers from several divisions have been brought in to spearhead the investigation.

News of the probe came in a Northern Joint Police Board agenda for a meeting due on May 11.

In a section headed "child protection" the report states: "A large scale child abuse inquiry is currently being carried out in the Muir of Ord area involving multiple victims and multiple suspects.

"This is likely to continue for some weeks yet and is destined to be one of the largest inquiries of its type in recent years.

"The inquiry team is currently made up of Central Divisional staff taken from Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Ross & Cromarty and the Western Isles."

Last night, a local Church of Scotland minister reacted with shock to the major police probe.

The Rev Iain Ramsden, whose church is about two miles from the village but has many Muir of Ord residents in its congregation, said: "This is an absolute shock to me.

"Muir of Ord is a typically friendly and welcoming Highland community. It is a lovely village.

"The people will be shocked and stunned that such an investigat ion will be taking place.

"But it is important for all to let the police get on with their investigation and to co-operate with the police at every level.

"Knowing the villagers the way I do, that is exactly what all of them will do in any case.

"But it is important this does not turn into a witchhunt.

"About half of my congregation is from the village and they and the rest of the congregation will be deeply shocked. All we can do is help the police in any form we can."

Local SNP councillor Peter Cairns said: "It is very shocking news. No one had an idea about this. But what I would say is that allegations of this nature can happen anywhere, in any community.

"All we know so far is that the investigation is centred here.

Inverness is only a few miles away and we can have no way of knowing what is involved in this.

"The police will conduct a thorough investigation and that is exactly what is required.

"People will be widely concerned by this.

"But it would be wrong at this stage to indulge in any form of speculation.

"Yes, it is a concern that there may be multiple victims or suspects but the police investigation is what is important here and nothing should pre-empt that."

A spokesman for the force, who probed the massive Orkney child abuse allegations of the 1990s, said he could not comment further at this stage.

In 1991, nine children were removed from their homes amid allegations of satanic abuse on the islands.

But in the end the case was thrown out of court and no one was ever convicted.

A subsequent inquiry chaired by Lord Clyde was critical of the methods employed by social workers interviewing chi ldren and 194 recommendations were made.

In 2003 eight people were charged after dawn raids in the Western Isles and England following allegations made by three girls. All the charges were later dropped.

But in that case, a report later said that the children were victims and was critical of the initial investigation.